3 Comments:

Part of the problem with the "empire causes terrorism" argument is that our current enemies -- much like our former Soviet enemies -- hate us not so much for what we do but for who we are. If the problem causing the terrorism was our "empire," then the fix would be easy. Give up the empire. But the problem isn't our "empire" -- at least not directly. The problem is that we are a small-L liberal democracy with a tradition of individual rights and religious liberty. Combine those things with some of the less than salutary aspects of our culture and that's what is at the core of the hatred of the west that is undergirding a good deal of the terrorism being waged against us.

It would be very comforting if we could actually get rid of terrorism by something as liberating as setting down our "imperial" obligations. But unfortunately, that wouldn't end the threat. If anything, it would likely make the threat even worse...

I have a hard time believing that other countries/cultures hate us (the USA) for what we are rather than what we do. It seems more likely that others would leave us alone if we weren't interfering with them in one way or another. It's basic human nature to not harass others unless they harass you. While it's true that there will always be a bully or two around, our country has ample means to discourage them.

Yes, but look at the extent of the interference. Not just US military bases, etc., but economic, cultural -- all the way down to Pizza Hut and Coca Cola.

I have an acquaintance who lives in Franconia in Barvaria. He lives in a little postcard village that looks like something out of a story-book. When he was visiting here in the States, he wanted to go to a certain chain pizza restaurant to eat lunch. I asked him why this specific chain pizza place? He said, "I miss it." Beg pardon, I said. "Yes, we have a [insert name of pizza chain] in my little town and I eat there all the time."

In a world like that, US "inference" in other countries isn't going away. Add in movies, music, etc. It just ain't gonna happen.